Hull MP backs campaign for UK's six million carers

Diana Johnson MP has teamed up with former Miss Great Britain, Preeti Desai, to support Carers Week 2007.

The Hull North MP and Preeti are drawing attention to the UK's six million carers people who look after a loved one who is ill, frail or disabled to help them gain the recognition and support they desperately need.

'My Life as a Carer' is the theme for Carers Week, and a survey of 3,500 carers has revealed the immense impact caring can have on every aspect of their life including, health, finances, education, career and relationships.

Two out of every three carers admitted that their personal relationships had suffered as a direct result of caring, with 60 per cent revealing they have little quality time together with their partners. Two thirds admitted to being financially worse off, with more than a quarter (28 per cent) unable to support their family properly. An alarming three quarters of carers had not had a break from their caring role in the past twelve months.

Carers Week will highlight the services available to help ease the burden of caring and ensure carers lives' are changed for the better.

Diana Johnson MP said: "I am delighted to be supporting Carers Week again. There are six million carers in the UK, including many in Hull. On top of worrying about a loved one's needs, it must be terrible if carers themselves feel that they have nowhere and nobody to turn to.

"The lot of carers is improving, with recent Government announcements on pensions and wider support for carers. However, Carers Week is vital in keeping a public focus on the plight of carers, their needs and their aspirations. I hope that by getting involved with Carers Week, more of my constituents who are dedicated to looking after someone will find out what services and support is available to them locally."

Diana has also signed up to a parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) which calls for an updated and improved National Carers Strategy.

Preeti Desai, crowned Miss Great Britain 2006-07, added: "I'm thrilled to be able to support Carers Week. I wanted to be involved due to my own personal experience as a carer, which came when my mother was ill and I took a year off to care for her.

"I hope that Carers Week will raise awareness about the vital role carers play in our society and help them achieve the recognition and support they deserve." A host of well-known faces are supporting Carers Week, including Esther Rantzen, Coleen Nolan,